Tsvangirai’s death won’t split the MDC, say analysts
THE death of Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai might highlight the factions within the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) but will not split the party. This is the view of political analysts. Tsvangirai‚ 65‚ the rival of ousted president Robert Mugabe, died on Wednesday at about 8pm at an unnamed hospital in Pretoria after a long battle with cancer.
MDC vice-president Advocate Nelson Chamisa was appointed the party’s interim leader yesterday.
Southern African Political Economy Series Trust executive chairman Dr Ibbo Mandaza said yesterday that Tsvangirai’s death would give the MDC a platform to unite. “His passing will be an invaluable resource for the opposition against Zanu-PF and its coup government.”
He believed the party would put factional battles aside during a mourning period.
“It is likely that his death might help in many ways.”
Dr Bekithemba Mpofu, of the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), said it was unfortunate that the issue of Tsvangirai’s successor had not been resolved despite his diagnosis two years ago.
However, Mpofu does not foresee a split in the party, and believed it unlikely that party differences would be resolved before this year’s elections.
“It might be that unity – while desirable – is not the best option, because the differences will continue to play in the public to the detriment of a progressive campaign.”
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he would invite political parties for a meeting to build consensus. – TimesLIVE, with additional reporting by Reuters and James Thompson in Harare